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About this project

THANKS!

I understand that everyone's time and money is very limited. I appreciate you taking the time to watch the trailer and read a little about this project. This is a passion that has consumed me over the past 10 years, and I'm on the cusp of a dream coming alive!

Your support and generosity can propel us over the finish line. Please help spread the good word!

BUDGET

My producer, Jeff Alberini, and I have been filming off and on since September 2009 when Jim Traficant was released from prison after 7+ years of incarceration. I've funded the project out of pocket up to this point, with Jeff providing all camera/sound equipment.

While we anticipate ultimately needing more money to complete the project, the desired $25,000 will kickstart our post-production and allow us to complete our final round of interviews. Any additional resources will be used to acquire expensive news coverage.

INTERVIEWS

I’ll construct a penetrating
examination utilizing unprecedented access to the gangsters, F.B.I. agents and
elected officials that survived the bloodiest gangland turf war and political
corruption sting in United States history.

SYNOPSIS

Jim Traficant was a legendary gridiron
quarterback turned mob busting Walking
Tall Sheriff who rose to power on a platform of “honesty in politics”. He
quickly ascended to the hallowed halls of Congress, becoming its most outspoken
member. Known as the Lenny Bruce of Congress; with wild hair, thrift store
suits and cowboy boots, his profanity laced one-minute speeches scorched the FBI
and IRS. His speeches made C-SPAN must see programming, as he signed off with
his patented “Beam Me Up!”

On the streets of his blue-collar
hometown the debate rages today –
Is Traficant a fearless prophet targeted by a vengeful government or a mobbed-up
political pariah that violated his people’s trust? ‘Jimbo’, as his die-hard
supporters call him, has been a divisive lightning rod since emerging on the
public scene.

Welcome to
Youngstown, Ohio where the ordinary rules of law do not apply. In 1963, The SaturdayEvening Post
called it the most corrupt city in America, dubbing it Crimetown, U.S.A.The once booming steel industry
collapsed overnight, leaving fifty thousand men jobless, just as organized
crime syndicates from Cleveland and Pittsburgh killed each other in the
streets. The downtrodden community seemingly turned a blind eye as they
scrambled for survival.

In 1980, the
FBI discovered audio recordings with Sheriff Traficant soliciting and accepting
bribes from both sides of the warring mob factions – promising them both exclusive
control over the multi-million dollar rackets.The FBI indicted
Traficant, who immediately signed a confession. In a most unorthodox fashion, Traficant defended himself
claiming he was running a “one man sting operation” against the mob – and he persuaded
the jury. To this day he remains
the only person to defeat the government in a RICO case, pro se. He returned to
a hero’s welcome and was elected to Congress the following year. His firebrand of populism earned
landslide re-elections for the next eighteen years. Until…

Christmas
Eve 1996, the local mafia boss ordered the assassination of the newly elected
“honest” County Prosecutor. The FBI descended upon Youngstown, “flipping” the
mafia boss. His testimony secured one
hundred indictments, implicating everyone from the dog-catcher to the
Congressman, in a tangled web of corruption and murders.

After serving seven years in
federal prison, Traficant re-emerged in the public eye – proclaiming his
innocence, and demanding his old seat back. In 2010, he ran for Congress against his one time protégé
Congressman Tim Ryan. Cameras embedded
in Congressman Ryan’s campaign, provide a visceral look into the election that finally
forced Youngstown to reconcile with its dismal past while struggling to define
its tenuous future. Only in
Youngstown…

FAQ

Have a question?
If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.

Pledge $50 or more

Pledge $100 or more

For your hundred dollar bribe I won't bust up your weekend poker game and I'll even send you Traficant t-shirt
[and a special thank you in the credits]

*plus all of above

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

You selected

Pledge $250 or more

6 backers

MAYOR:
"A little walkin' around money"
Gets you a movie poster, plus all of the above

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

You selected

Pledge $500 or more

6 backers

"THE YOUNGSTOWN TUNE-UP"
For your generous donation I'll send a coupla guys over to put bomb in your car!
If you survive, I'll send you 2 jars of my mom's hot peppers and oil! They are to die for.

*plus all of above

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

You selected

Pledge $1,000 or more

2 backers
Limited (8 left of 10)

FBI AGENT: [associate producer credit]
You won't have many friends in Crimetown, but I'll love you forever. And I'll treat you to an Italian feast. Plus you'll get a collectors edition coffee table book on Traficant.

*plus all of above

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

You selected

Pledge $2,500 or more

1 backer
Limited (4 left of 5)

CONGRESSMAN: [producer credit]

I'll kickback a portion of my salary and work on your houseboat.

Plus you'll be a VIP at film premieres in YO/LA/DC and join us at festivals. [travel not included]

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

You selected

Pledge $5,000 or more

0 backers
Limited (2 left of 2)

THE GODFATHER: [executive producer credit]
A brown envelope stuffed with hundred dollar bills and your testimony against the mob will get you a long stay in the witness protection program.
Also, join filmmakers in post-production and attend final mix/mastering sessions.

The filmmakers and select interviewees will have a private screening for you and your guests.
Take a blood oath because you're part of my family now.

*plus all of above

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

Funding period

Oct 1, 2011 - Nov 30, 2011
(60 days)

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